Purdue’s A.J. Hammons is Big Ten Player of the Week
From Purdue Athletics:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue’s A.J. Hammons was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after a dominating performance in the Boilermakers’ 67-63 win over Indiana last Thursday.
It marks the first Player of the Week accolade for the 7-foot junior center from Gary, Indiana, and is the first Player of the Week honor for the Purdue program since Robbie Hummel won the award on Feb. 27, 2012.
Hammons scored 20 points with four rebounds and four blocked shots in last week’s win over the Hoosiers in Assembly Hall. After missing his first field goal attempt, Hammons made his next eight shots to finish the game 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. His two free throws with 4.3 seconds left sealed Purdue’s victory.
In two games against Indiana this year, both victories, Hammons went 12-of-13 from the field while scoring 31 points with 12 blocked shots.
For the season, Hammons is averaging 11.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 3.0 BPG in 24.0 minutes per game. In Big Ten play, he is averaging 12.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 3.0 BPG while leading the league in field goal percentage (.630) and blocked shots. He is trying to become just the second player in Big Ten history to lead the league in field goal percentage and blocked shots in league games only during the same season (Ohio State’s Greg Oden – 2007).
In addition, Hammons needs just three points for 1,000 in his career and seven blocked shots for 250 in his career. Doing so this year would make him the third player in Big Ten history with 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 250 blocked shots by the end of his junior season (Ohio State’s Herb Williams and Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll).
Hammons and the Boilermakers host Rutgers on Thursday night at Mackey Arena, beginning at 9 PM (ET).
Game story: Purdue beats Indiana 67-63
